Paddlers compete in V1 race

Seventeen paddlers took to the start line in Saturday’s singles V1 race, the second-to-last race on the Cook Islands Canoeing Association’s national singles calendar before the elite singles event, Te Aito Cook Islands.

The last few weeks of races have seen a mixed bag of conditions and some good hard racing, especially among the men who have been vying for positions to the inaugural World Distance Championships in Tahiti in June.

Saturday’s race from Trader Jacks up to Avana and back, which is around 17km, also served as the trial to determine the master’s men’s V1 paddler for the world championships.

Esben Torget staked his claim to the masters V1 position, coming in second overall in 1 hour 34.30 minutes - less than a minute behind winner Andre Tutaka George in 1:33.40, while John Beasley finished third in 1:38.48.

Serena Hunter was first woman across the line in 1:43.28, with Tara Cumming, the only other female on the water, recording 1:58.29.

The next race in two weeks’ time over an 18km course will be a good test for those paddlers heading to Tahiti in June.

In Tahiti, the singles paddlers will be racing over an 18km course, while the V6 paddlers will race over a 27km course.

The elite singles race event, Te Aito CI, to be held on May 6, will also serve as the trial to determine the open men’s and junior men’s V1 paddlers, as well as the women’s master, open and junior V1 paddlers.